Zac Purton’s distant third aboard the Boniface Ho Ka-kui-owned Land Legend was the best feature result for the five Hong Kong-based jockeys riding in Australia on Saturday.

Land Legend loomed outside eventual winner Duke De Sessa turning for home in the Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m) but found nothing in the straight, fading to finish six lengths away in third.

“He was very agitated in the gates and just raced like that. I couldn’t get him to relax at all and at the half-mile I couldn’t hold him any longer and had to let him go,” Purton said.

Andrea Atzeni was fourth aboard Zardozi, Karis Teetan finished 15th aboard Coco Sun and Ben Thompson could only manage 16th on Sayedaty Sadaty.

Atzeni’s undercard second aboard Zeitung was the best return for the Hong Kong quartet in Melbourne.

Brenton Avdulla had to settle for eighth aboard Storm Boy behind Bella Nipotina in The Everest at Randwick in Sydney, with his best finish from six rides a sixth aboard King Of The Castle.

All five jockeys will return to Hong Kong to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday, with Purton partnering favourite Ka Ying Rising in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) and Avdulla jumping aboard California Spangle.

A two-time Group One winner on his way to being named Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter last season, California Spangle must carry top weight of 135 pounds in his first run since June.

“[California Spangle] has been an amazing horse for me since I’ve been in Hong Kong. We had two Group One wins, so he really put me on the map in Hong Kong. He’s a special horse and hopefully we can see what he can do again this season,” Avdulla said.

“He’s got a really good sprinting record [but] to kick off with top weight, it’s going to be a big ask for him against some up and coming horses.”